Article by
Luova Labs

Published on
March 2, 2018

A former Deputy Chief Electoral Officer is today predicting a number of sure seats for the incumbent Democratic Labour Party (DLP) in the highly anticipated general elections, which are constitutionally due here by June.

Donville Johnson, who served from January 1997 to November 2006 in that capacity, said he was confident newcomer Kim Tudor would defeat longstanding Barbados Labour Party (BLP) representative for St Michael North Ronald Toppin.

Delivering the weekly Astor B Watts lunchtime lecture at the DLP headquarters on Friday on the topic, Be Prepared, Johnson, who is a ruling party stalwart, also forecasted a clear win for the DLP incumbent Denis Kellman in St Lucy, but stopped just of saying that its representative in St Andrew Irene Sandiford-Garner will be able to overcome the Barbados Labour Party’s George Payne this time around.

“I was in a place liming in St Michael North and I can tell you that my predictions are that Kim Tudor will eat up Toppin. She will eat him up. She has good support and she will get more support,” declared Johnson.

His prediction about Tudor, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Initiative for Service Excellence (NISE), contradicts that of veteran political scientist and pollster Peter Wickham, who in January told Barbados TODAY the first timer did not stand a chance against the BLP’s Toppin, who had held the St Michael North seat for 24 years.

Wickham had argued that with the elections mere months away it would be difficult for the electorate to take any DLP candidates who threw their hats in the ring at the eleventh hour seriously.

However, Wickham did say he believed Tudor could have been a strong contender had she been given more time to prepare.

Wickham’s prediction not withstanding, Johnson still suggests the DLP stands a good chance of claiming St Michael North in the next election.

And when it comes to St Andrew, Johnson argued that any DLP candidate should win Shorey Village, which he described as “DLP ground”.

However, he said the final result in St Andrew would depend on what happens in Chalky Mount, Hillaby, White Hill and Orange Hill – areas that usually give a good indication of who the representative for that rural constituency would be.

“Same thing happens in St Lucy – along the coast road, if the Democratic Labour Party is losing, BLP is going to be in business, but you see when they get up inside St Lucy, Kellman is going to mash them up,” Johnson declared.

“That is why you have to know your stronghold, know the patterns of voting. Patterns evolve over a number of elections, over a number of years,” he added.

Taking a jab at leader of the budding United Progressive Party (UPP) Lynette Eastmond, Johnson also suggested that she did not stand a chance against the DLP’s Henderson Williams in The City, after being defeated multiple times before in St Philip West by Dr David Estwick.

“She get beat three times in St Philip and she ran from up there and come to The City. She understands The City? You have to understand constituencies. Every constituency has certain characteristics you can’t take from one and move it to the other,” he said.

Turning his attention to St John and St Philip, Johnson did not predict an outright win for the DLP candidates, but said those were two parishes where he believed people would return home to vote although they may now reside elsewhere.

“Those people from those constituencies have loyalty and dedication to their constituencies. So on the surface a lot of us just think things happen. The Prime Minister calls election and people go and vote, but there are thinkers behind everything that happen,” he explained.

Urging DLP candidates and canvassers to be ready for the upcoming elections, Johnson advised them to remain humble, familiarize themselves with the law and the constituents in order to “become household names” and to stay focused and ignore “the lot of the noise at this time”.

He also advised that there were several things that candidates should do on their own instead of depending on their political party for financing, including setting a budget, acquiring a public announcement system and “identify people in your constituency or in Barbados who are potential donors”.

Asked if he believed the recent ruling by the Supreme Court which clears the way for Commonwealth citizens to participate in the upcoming election could influence the outcome of the poll and if he anticipated more Commonwealth citizens residing in Barbados to vote, the former High Commissioner to London said he did not want to speculate.

In fact, Johnson said he had not yet “studied the ruling sufficiently”, but believed there were good grounds for Government to challenge it.

“So I have no doubt that the Chief Justice would have in his eminence looked through it and said, ‘well look, it isn’t just emotional feelings, but these people are entitled’. But the caveat would be that you have to make an application and get on the [voters’] list,” Johnson said, warning that “You could be whoever and you do not appear on the electoral list, I am sorry you cannot vote.”

“The Attorney General has already indicated that he will challenge it and there may very well be good ground for challenging it,” he added. marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb

Ha ha luther… “Go and FIX yuh Teet
Dah is Wuh”..dah is a good wun
.Looks as though he suck a lot a raw eggs in he hey day and in use na lime…..wha in lick out ..bend back
Who de hell is Kim doah,you got de right name ? you sure you in mean Tara ?..T C wha he talking bout ?

question to BT.HOW COULD BT ALLOWED THIS EFFLUNCE FROM LUTHER THORNE EFFLUENT MOUTH TO BE PUBLISHED.This statement from you luther shows that you are effluence yourself tek de yampy out yuh eye before yuh tell somebody bout theirs

Ha ha luther… “Go and FIX yuh Teet
Dah is Wuh”..dah is a good wun
.Looks as though he suck a lot a raw eggs in he hey day and in use na lime…..wha in lick out ..bend back
Who de hell is Kim doah,you got de right name ? you sure you in mean Tara ?..T C wha he talking bout ?

question to BT.HOW COULD BT ALLOWED THIS EFFLUNCE FROM LUTHER THORNE EFFLUENT MOUTH TO BE PUBLISHED.This statement from you luther shows that you are effluence yourself tek de yampy out yuh eye before yuh tell somebody bout theirs

Who is KIM ?…wha foolishness you talking bout ? you in know better people tried and failed in the hey years of DEM ? now people can’t wait to GET RID OF EVERY RH DEM and you talking bout a political neophyte topping TOPPING….down in dey man ???
You now come town or wha ? there is no stopping TOPPIN ? put that in ya pipe and smoke it BUT save the smoke,cause that is the ONLY think that would stop a BEE like Toppin.

Who is KIM ?…wha foolishness you talking bout ? you in know better people tried and failed in the hey years of DEM ? now people can’t wait to GET RID OF EVERY RH DEM and you talking bout a political neophyte topping TOPPING….down in dey man ???
You now come town or wha ? there is no stopping TOPPIN ? put that in ya pipe and smoke it BUT save the smoke,cause that is the ONLY think that would stop a BEE like Toppin.

In true DLP arrogance, you think that dangling an election date shows some sign of power over Bajans, but as they say pride cometh before the fall. Bajans have had to deal with tax upon tax upon tax for 10 years, downgrade after downgrade, significant increase in the cost of living, roads in a deplorable state, garbage uncollected for weeks, income tax and vat returns unpaid for years, 70 buses, UWI fees, average economic growth of less than 1% over 10 years, increased debt, dwindling foreign reserves and of course sewage on the south coast.Yet a newcomer representing a party with such a track record will beat a stalwart? I remember Depeiza with all his Philip Greaves’ lineage was going to beat Toppin in 2008 too.

In true DLP arrogance, you think that dangling an election date shows some sign of power over Bajans, but as they say pride cometh before the fall. Bajans have had to deal with tax upon tax upon tax for 10 years, downgrade after downgrade, significant increase in the cost of living, roads in a deplorable state, garbage uncollected for weeks, income tax and vat returns unpaid for years, 70 buses, UWI fees, average economic growth of less than 1% over 10 years, increased debt, dwindling foreign reserves and of course sewage on the south coast.Yet a newcomer representing a party with such a track record will beat a stalwart? I remember Depeiza with all his Philip Greaves’ lineage was going to beat Toppin in 2008 too.

@ The DLP Stalwart; you advise your politicians to solicit funds, remember them to report the amount and who are the donors to the authorities because if they are found to be shady characters, the monies should be returned and that is to all the politicians seeking office.

@ The DLP Stalwart; you advise your politicians to solicit funds, remember them to report the amount and who are the donors to the authorities because if they are found to be shady characters, the monies should be returned and that is to all the politicians seeking office.

@ The BLP Stalwarts esp hcalndre; you advise your politicians to solicit funds, remember them to report the amount and who are the donors to the authorities because if they are found to be shady characters, the monies should be returned and that is to all the politicians seeking office.

@ The BLP Stalwarts esp hcalndre; you advise your politicians to solicit funds, remember them to report the amount and who are the donors to the authorities because if they are found to be shady characters, the monies should be returned and that is to all the politicians seeking office.

Andy g
We know why you would have a problem
Howevet
The ECB needs examining in light of his statement. An investigation is in order. These people cannot be trusted.
Something seems to be going on

Some nasty plan is in the works.

Black Bajans are very slow to act especially the females. They hold up things with a lot of wishy washy frighten talk when men want to take action.. Too damn passive. Elections shoulda call eversince but Dem have demonstrated that they are POWER HUNGRY , SELFISH , GREEDY AND INSENSITIVE

DICTATORSHIP
CRACKING OF HEADS
ONE PARTY STATE
and a
PRIME MINISTER FOR LIFE is what we are not face with in Barbados

@Luther – “Black Bajans are very slow to act especially the females” Do u think Mia is like this?
Do u know that this black “turtle” like behavior however insipid, has preserved them for the last 400YRS.

It is not a nasty plan, it is just strategy – weakening and vote spacing. And the other parties can fall into the pit if they are not careful.

Come in the public tawking She-ite
Teh wha yuh get.
Andy g
We know why you would have a problem
Howevet
The ECB needs examining in light of his statement. An investigation is in order. These people cannot be trusted.
Something seems to be going on
Some nasty plan is in the works.
Black Bajans are very slow to act especially the females. They hold up things with a lot of wishy washy frighten talk when men want to take action.. Too damn passive. Elections shoulda call eversince but Dem have demonstrated that they are POWER HUNGRY , SELFISH , GREEDY AND INSENSITIVE
DICTATORSHIP
CRACKING OF HEADS
ONE PARTY STATE
and a
PRIME MINISTER FOR LIFE is what we are not face with in Barbados
Oh !

@Luther – “Black Bajans are very slow to act especially the females” Do u think Mia is like this?
Do u know that this black “turtle” like behavior however insipid, has preserved them for the last 400YRS.
It is not a nasty plan, it is just strategy – weakening and vote spacing. And the other parties can fall into the pit if they are not careful.

Andy g
We know why you would have a problem
However
The ECB needs examining in light of his statement. An investigation is in order. These people cannot be trusted.
Something seems to be going on
Some nasty plan is in the works

Black Bajans are very slow to act especially the females. They
hold up things with a lot of wishy washy frighten talk when men want to take action.. Too damn passive. Elections shoulda call eversince . The Dems have demonstrated that they are POWER
HUNGRY , SELFISH , GREEDY AND INSENSITIVE

DICTATORSHIP
CRACKING OF HEADS
ONE PARTY STATE
and a
PRIME MINISTER FOR LIFE is what we are now face with in Barbados

Come in the public tawking She-ite
Tek wha yuh get.
Andy g
We know why you would have a problem
However
The ECB needs examining in light of his statement. An investigation is in order. These people cannot be trusted.
Something seems to be going on
Some nasty plan is in the works
Black Bajans are very slow to act especially the females. They
hold up things with a lot of wishy washy frighten talk when men want to take action.. Too damn passive. Elections shoulda call eversince . The Dems have demonstrated that they are POWER
HUNGRY , SELFISH , GREEDY AND INSENSITIVE
DICTATORSHIP
CRACKING OF HEADS
ONE PARTY STATE
and a
PRIME MINISTER FOR LIFE is what we are now face with in Barbados
Oh !

Saga Boy how would you know the Elections date?As I suspected you are a DLP MP and there are others on here like Sticks and Stones ,Archy Perch ,Mark My Wordand Green Giant who may also be politiciansdoing blogging as well.If you all are so confident call the Election and defend your record and let the people decide.

Saga Boy how would you know the Elections date?As I suspected you are a DLP MP and there are others on here like Sticks and Stones ,Archy Perch ,Mark My Wordand Green Giant who may also be politiciansdoing blogging as well.If you all are so confident call the Election and defend your record and let the people decide.

“You could be whoever and you do not appear on the electoral list, I am sorry you cannot vote.” A former chief electoral officer speaking. Code language that the voter registration list has been pruge. Folks if you want to win an election, this is how you do it. No name cant vote!

“You could be whoever and you do not appear on the electoral list, I am sorry you cannot vote.” A former chief electoral officer speaking. Code language that the voter registration list has been pruge. Folks if you want to win an election, this is how you do it. No name cant vote!